Droid Engineer Archive

Fellow DEs,

I've been pushing hard to get an answer on the DE Hybrid 'question'and can now announce the following:

The proposal for using the DE Hybrid for adding CL10+ droids to the game will not be workable (from a balance standpoint) and is 180% off the table. Gone.Done.Over.

"WHAT!!??! How'd this happen?!? I thought this was a strong proposal!!?!", you say?

Yes...it was (and is) a strong and very well put together proposal. It turns out that it simply wasn't strong enough to overcome the balance problems it represented. It is, however, an example of the kind of excellent unity and 'one voice' movement that we really need. It was (and is) a perfect example of implementing "TheWoody Protocols".

Let me give some background, in case your joining late...

DE community 'Hybrid' plan for CL10+ droids:

Sodan-Droiddreamer came up with an excellent and strong proposal many weeks back for adding CL10+ combat droids into the game. The DE community (with Sodan 'driving') tweaked and revised the plan. It was truly a labour of love and a great scheme to add CL10+ droids to the game in a cool way that most of us wanted.

I have to give crazy huge 'props' to Sodan here for making, and championing, an excellent proposal and carrying it forth. It makes me very sad indeed to have to bear the news that this proposal won't fly. I know, Sodan, that you'll feel the let down over this (as so many of us will).That's more than understandable. I wish I could say something positive here to help you not feel stung after pouring yourself info this. I hope you can take pride in knowing that you helped to really get the Devs to focus their thinking a lot on CL10+ droids. Your original post (and the tweaking that followed in others) helped to make a lot of our combat-related issues get more 'brain time'...which is better for the ultimate right answer we all want.

After what occurred with the announcement of DH, it became clear to most DEs (and many other players) that using a Droid Handler profession wasn't desired. So, the focus shifted over the addition of utility droids, which DEs also find very important. We did get some good info gathering and feedback on utility modules. So, the Devs shifted their priorities to fit our call for more utility, more utility, more utility. Those changes are currently in process, concept and development.

The utility changes are not small, however, and often do require a fair amount of planning and thought to see if they will even work on paper, much less when coded. This is part of the reason why solid, 'locked' info has been so hard to come by thus far.

For utility modules, what the Devs have always wanted is solid, well-tweaked (balanced) input. We have given them quite a bit of this and do not doubt that more of the same will occur.

However, the DE Hybrid proposal simply cannot be balanced. The issue that turns up is that having the benefits of two professions jammed into one profession isn't balanced. When all was said and done, it seems there wasn't a combination that would have allowed DEs to be a crafting/combat hybrid in a balanced manner. And, yes, the proposal was discussed at length and in detail by TH and the other Devs.

In any case....the proposal is off the table. This is, unfortunately, my post having to let you know that they are making the final 'call' on this answer for CL10+ droids. That means there has to be a return to some kind of drawing board to find some new, right answer.



The short term options for 'combat market' help for DEs.

In the short term, I'm concerned, as are we all, with our ability to sell into combat markets. This can only happen when our products are useful to more players. I will put forth a strong suggestion that we see some adjustments to our armor / damage / etc., since the combat revamp is now dropped and will be handled differently.

This would be an interim measure that I hope will allow us to regain some of the combat market that's gone so dry. However, since this is a 'Band-Aid' proposal, the thing to remember is that even if they did do this, it would be changed/nerfed down later (when new combat droids hit).

Again...this is a proposal I will be putting forth. Nothing more. I make no promises on armor/combat balance but as it is a vital to our ability to sell combat droids in any real numbers, I'll be pushing. Of that, you should have no doubt.

The plans that are 'on the table' still and the actual ETA on CL10+ combat droids:

Right now, I'm authorized to let you know that CL10+ droids won't be making an appearance until after the release of the Space Expansion. So, no Droideka, Trade Fed. Battle droids or Super Battle Droids will be in our hands for some time.

That being said, we have some time to pull together behind one of the two remaining options for getting CL10+ combat droids into the game using a system that has some chance of being balanced.

1) Droid Commander

I'm seeing a good number of DEs stating that if they'd known that DC was the 'only way' to get CL10+ droids in the game, they wouldn't have voted it down. Well, we still have that as an option.

We've asked them for guidance on how to do it...that is...forthcoming, I guess you could say. Theyreally want the answer to happen in a grouped manner, instead of straight up dictation of what we "will get".

The Devs have stated that the best way to look at it is by looking at a two tree profession and a four tree profession. If any among you feel brave enough to flesh out how this might actually play (and be implemented), younow have your chance. We would need to consider the skill point costs and mods/features/etc. that would occupy the different skill trees and so on.

Right now, it's assumed that this could well be a 2-tree profession but the option is there for a 4-tree profession if we can collectively help suggest/propose enough content for 4 trees.

Since DH/DC is out there as a solution, please try to work up items on the best/coolest way to do it, much like we did with theDE Hybrid proposal.

2) Faction pets

This is one of the other options that is still on the table as a possibility. The details on this are really thin but with the GCW revamp coming, it might well be a good interim step to take on the way to DC. I don't know if doing both of these is in the cards but one could be a good way to lead into the other and build up over time.

If you want to consider this option, be aware that it has had less focus from the Dev end and they still consider DC as being the primary method of adding CL10+ droids (in a way that can be balanced...and that is key). If we can come up with a faction pet proposal for adding them so that it balances, they will look at it as an option. However, the primary method of focus right now seems to be a new profession.

Again...I really pains me terribly to have to bear such bad news. I implore all of you not to allow this to drive the DE board's tone to spiral down out of control. There's going to be quite a bit for us to focus on in the coming days and weeks (Publish 8) as well as rebuilding a CL10+ droid proposal to replace the Hybrid.

As always, I'll stay on top of all this and let you know all know what I can, when I can...

I am working to ensure that my next post (similar to this) will be one that brings good news.

/bow

Respectfully,

Message Edited by TheRealTK421 on 04-02-2004 11:35 AM

Message Edited by Envoy3113 on 04-02-2004 11:39 AM

/sigh

While not unexpected, this is not good news. Oh well... I can see the effort that has gonerectifying what is perceived by the DE communnity as a "gross negligence on the part of Application Design"... and will go so far as to offer my sincere thanks for the work that you have done, TK.

/bow

sssssssssssssssssSSS(:-<

So TK ...

ok Hybrid DE is out.

But will it be again to us to do the DEVs job and create another very wellthinkedproposal?... blindly without anyclueof what they want?
Or this time they will havesomething to say to give utilty to DE?
Or did they not even realize how useless is the profession ?

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TheRealTK421 wrote:

There's going to be quite a bit for us to focus on in the coming days and weeks (Publish 8) as well as rebuilding a CL10+ droid proposal to replace the Hybrid.

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<3 Sodan

Well i cant say im surprised, but i can understand where they are coming from. But news of battle droids and destroyers is news enough to keep me in.

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TheRealTK421 wrote:

Fellow DEs,

...

The plans that are 'on the table' still and the actual ETA on CL10+ combat droids:

Right now, I'm authorized to let you know that CL10+ droids won't be making an appearance until after the release of the Space Expansion. So, no Droideka, Trade Fed. Battle droids or Super Battle Droids will be in our hands for some time.

...

/bow

Respectfully,

Message Edited by TheRealTK421 on 04-02-2004 11:35 AM

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TheRealTK421 wrote:
I have been seeing/hearing July mentioned...but I wouldn't go by that.

With regard to release dates, I would highly recommend that do not count on any date till the box is on the shelf.

I've seen too many dates get pushed back. I prefer to subscribe to the "It will be out when it's out." philosophy.

/bow

Respectfully,

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TheRealTK421 wrote:

Fellow DEs,

I've been pushing hard to get an answer on the DE Hybrid 'question'and can now announce the following:

....the proposal is off the table. This is, unfortunately, my post having to let you know that they are making the final 'call' on this answer for CL10+ droids. That means there has to be a return to some kind of drawing board to find some new, right answer.

/bow

Respectfully,

Message Edited by TheRealTK421 on 04-02-2004 11:35 AM

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